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If the idea of pumping iron in a sweaty gym fills you with horror, then you’re in luck.

Because, according to new research, regular brisk walks are more effective for keeping the weight off anyway.

Researchers from the London School of Economics and Political Science analysed data about how much people exercise from the annual Health Survey for England between 1999 and 2012.

They found that people who walked regularly for more than 30 minutes had lower BMIs and smaller waists than those who did more vigorous exercise, such as jogging, cycling or going to the gym.

The effects were particularly strong for women, and both men and women over the age of 50.

Get walking guys (Picture: Getty)

‘We show that individuals who walk at a brisk or fast pace are more likely to have a lower weight when compared to individuals doing other activities,’ said Dr Grace Lordan, a special in health economics, who led the study.

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Currently, about 60 per cent of the UK adult population is classified as overweight, of whom 12.5 million are obese.

The study recommends a campaign to promote the health benefits of walking as a way of tackling obesity.

‘Given the obesity epidemic and the fact that a large proportion of people in the UK are inactive, recommending that people walk briskly more often is a cheap and easy policy option,’ Dr Lordan wrote in the journal Risk Analysis.

‘Additionally, there is no monetary cost to walking so it is very likely that the benefits will outweigh the costs. It has also been shown by the same authors that walking is associated with better physical and mental health.

‘So, a simple policy that “every step counts” may be a step towards curbing the upward trend in obesity rates and beneficial for other health conditions.’